Display and support rack for re-usable containers



Aug. 3, 1965 c. E. BIGLIERI 3,198,143

DISPLAY AND SUPPORT RACK FOR RE-USABLE CONTAINERS Filed Feb. 10, 1964 CLYDE E. B/GL/ER/ INVENTOR M fM 3,18,143 DISPLAY AND SUPPQRT RAiIK FQR RlE-USABLE CQNTAENERS (Ilyde E. Biglieri, 225i) Tyho Ava, Reno, Nev. Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,763 8 Claims. ((31. 1168-28) This invention relates to a display and support rack for re-usable containers, particularly containers which are provided with a removable cover, such as a lid or other closure which can also serve as a means to support the container from the rack in depending relationship.

Many items of commerce, particularly food stuffs, are now merchandised in transparent, rigid containers fabricated of a material such as glass, plastic or the like. Each of such containers is provided with an open mouth through which the contents are admitted and removed and which is closed by a lid, or a cover, detacha'bly secured to the container. Typical of such containers and covers are glass jars provided with rigid caps, preferably fabricated of light-gauge metal, screw-threadably detachably secured to the jar in closing, sealing relationship with the mouth thereof. Such glass containers are frequently employed in packaging and distributing food stuffs, such as coffee, tea, canned fruits and vegetables, pre-cooked baby foods, and the like.

It has been observed by distributors and vendors of articles merchandised in such containers that the purchasers thereof subsequently employ such containers, when empty, for the storage of small items, such as tacks, nails, screws, nuts, bolts, and assorted hardware articles.

Since such transparent containers, either of glass or rigid plastic, are frangible, various methods of storing a quantity of such re-usable containers have been employed to minimize breakage and yet fully utilize their trans parency to afford ready identification and location of articles stored therein. In the case of glass jars having metal lids screw-threadably secured thereto, many, purchasers of such containers nail, or screw, the metal lids to the underside of a supporting surface. While this is effective in retaining the lid to the shelf and supporting the container while attached to the lid, it is impossible to remove the complete container, including the closing lid, if it is desired to transport the container in a closed condition to a new location.

In addition, it has been observed that such glass containers experience a rather high mortality rate due to inadvertent dropping and breakage. In such event, a new I glass jar must be sought for the lid which has been attached to the underside of a shelf in a semi-permanent manner. Therefore, a need has been recognized for a means of attaching such transparent reusable containers to the underside of one or more shelves of a support rack in manner permitting removal of the entire container complete with closing lid. In addition, the marketing of food stuffs in such transparent re-usable containers indicates the desirability of a rack which could serve both as a display means and a subsequent support for the empty containers following purchase and consumption of the contents. A very desirable characteristic of such a display and support rack is to permit ready disassembly and assembly, while providing adequate storage facilities for a number of such re-usable containers, whether containing their original contents or other items subsequently stored therein following use of such original contents.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display and support rack for re-usable containers which will dependably maintain such containers in a position convenient for inspection and individual removal. 1 Another object is to provide such a display and support rack for such containers which can be readily assembled and disassembled.

1 United States Patent 3, l 1 4'3 Patented Aug. 3, l 965 Another object is to provide a display and support rack which is capable of supporting a plurality of re-usable containers in depending relationship from the rack, including the individual respective covers, or lids, of such containers.

A further object is to provide a readily disassembled and assembled display and support rack for a plurality of storage containers, the rack being fabricated of a mini mum of individual parts which are designed and fabricated to permit maximum of interchangeability.

A still further object is to provide a display and support rack with novel interchangeable reinforcing elements to enhance the rigidity of the rack, while permitting ease of assembly and disassembly.

These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display and supper rack embodying the principles of the present invention supporting a plurality of re-usa'ble containers therein.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged view in vertical transverse section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged view infront elevation of the display rack showing one of the means employed to form a separable joint between cooperating structural elements.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the elements of FIG. 3 in a separated, disassembled condition.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of one of the gusset plates employed to maintain the component elements in an -assembled relation.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the gusset plate of FIG. 5.

Referring in greater particularity to FIG. 1, a display and support rack, as a specific embodiment of the present invention, is illustrated including a pair of transversely spaced frame members 10 oriented in respective approximately vertical planes. Since most display stands utilized in food markets and the like are constructed with vertically oriented walls, the present display and support rack is preferably formed with the frame members 10 in a substantially vertical orientation. Each of the frame members is provided with arbitrarily designated upper and lower ends 11 and 12, the lower ends being adapted to serve as a support base, if the rack is to be placed on a floor or other supporting surface. The frame members 10 also provide front and rear marginal edges 13 and 14. Preferably, the frame members are provided with longitudinally extended shallow grooves 15 on opposite side faces thereof adjacent to at least one of said marginal edges 13 and 14. The purpose or" such shallow grooves will be described more fully in connection with the means employed to maintain the frame members 10 and associated components in an assembled relationship.

The frame members 10 are individually provided with projecting lugs 16 affording respective apertures 17, there by facilitating hanging of the rack on a supporting wall surface. The frame members are also provided with a plurality of vertically spaced, transversely extended mortise grooves 18, which are shown more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4 as being of conventional dove-tail cross-section.

A plurality of vertically spaced shelves 20 are extended between the frame members 10 and disposed in respective substantially parallel horizontal planes. Each of the shelves is provided with respective left and right ends 21 and 22, as viewed in FIG. 1. Each end is formed with a tenon 23 of a dove-tail configuration and dimensioned so as to be received in snugly fitting relationship in a respective mortise groove 18 of the frame members. As aforesaid, the display and support rack is preferably formed with the frame members and the shelves in right-angular relationship a so as to conform to conventional display stands employed in food markets and other stores.

Each of the shelves 20 is provided with longitudinally extended shallow grooves 24' of.a configuration substantially identicalto the grooves 15 and adjacenttola marginal edge thereof. Each of the shelves also provide an upwardly presented surface 25 and a' downwardly presented surface 26. Preferably the shallow provided on both of such sur-faces- '1 y As can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 1; and 6, a plurality of'gusset plates 30 are provided dependably .to maintain the shelves in right-angularly assembled relation to the frame members 10. Each of the gusset plates includes a flat support element 31ofapproximately triangular configuration and formedwith a first set of opposed walls 32 of predetermined length and. transverse spacing in upstanding relationship. tothe element 31. The walls 32 define therebetween a channel 33 adapted to receive anyone 'of the marginal. edges of either the frame members or the shelves 20. The opposed inner faces of the walls 32 are each provided with respective inwardly convexly cambered surfaces 34, which are shown in a somewhatexaggerated formin FIG. 6 for purposes of clarity. The walls v32 outwardly converge and define a channel 33 the'rebetween. The grooves areformed with a transverse profile substantially complementary to the convexly cambered surfaces 34 so that the marginal edges may bedependably retained between the Walls 32 The support e1ernent31of each of the gusset plates 30 is also provided with a second set of spaced opposed Walls 40, upstanding fromthe element 31 and preferably disposed in right-angular relationship tothe first set of walls 32 to insure the assemblyand maintenance of the frame members 10 and 'shelves'20 in the desired right-angular relationship. If an angular relationship other than 90 is desired, the relationship of the walls 40 to the walls 32 must. be'selected to accommodate such a relationship;

grooves 24 are frame members in superposed, vertically spaced, substantially parallel relationship and, affording respective downwardly presented surfaces extended between opposite ends of said shelves; and a plurality. of individual container support means integralwith the shelves and extended from said downwardly presented surfaces at predetermined intervals of transverse spacing between said frame members to accommodatesaid containers and affording respective downwardly opening sockets of a depth less than said predetermined height and of a transverse dimension to accommodate said covers tosupport the same in depending relationship with a portion of the covers extended outwardly from, the support means.

'2. A display and support rack for 'a plurality of reusable containers which are provided with respective reshelves; means detachably securing said shelves'to'said The walls also outwardly converge and define a chan-' nel 41 by reason of their being provided with respectively inwardly convexly cambered surfaces 42, 'substan-' tially identical tothe surfaces 34 and complementary to' the shallow grooves 15 and 24. I

As illustrated in FIGS; 1;2 and 4, a plurality of lcon-' tainers'upport means 45 are individually secured to the respective downwardly presented surfaces 26 of the shelves 20. In the form of the invention illustrated, the container support means 45 are fabricated as annular elements of a size and configuration to accommodate the covers 46 of containers such as the glass jars illustrated. at 47. It is to be noted that th'ecovers 46 areofapredetermined height H as illustrated in dashed lines'inthe lower portion of FIG. ,2. The annular containerfsup port. means.

frame members at respective outwardly disposed-accessible positions adjacent said opposite ends; and-a plurality of individual container support means integral with the shelves and extended from said downwardly presented surfaces at predetermined intervals of i transverse spacing between said frame members to accommodate said containers and affording respective downwardly opening sockets of a depth less than said predetermined height and of a transverse dimension to accommodate said covers and support the same in depending relationship with a portion of the covers extended outwardly from the sup- '3. A display and support rack for a plurality of reusable containers which are provided with respective removable covers of a predetermined vertical height, the

'rack comprising a pair of transversely spaced approxisaid, frame members at respective positions adjacent said opposite ends; anda plurality of individual container support means secured-to at least the superior of 'said downwardly presented surfaces at predetermined intervals of transverse spacing between said frame members toaccommodate said containers and affording respec-' tive downwardly opening sockets of a depth less than said predetermined height and of a transverse dimension to accommodate said covers and support the same in depending relationship, said frame members and said "shelves larly threaded container 47, as wellas providing acorre- 1 sponding screw-thread on the outer surface of the covers v46. Accordingly, such screw-thread on the outer surface of the covers permits their. releasable retention. in'the sockets 48 of the container support means 45."

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:, l

1. A display and support rack for a plurality of reusable containers which are provided with'r'espective'removable covers of a predetermined verticalheight, the rack comprising a pair of; transversely spaced, approxias new being provided with respective forwardly and rearwardly disposed marginal edges, said securing means being adaptedto engage the respective marginal edges of said frame members and said shelves at respective positions adjacent said opposite ends with said opposite ends being disposed in juxtaposition to'said frame members.

4. The display and support rack of claim 3 wherein said securing means is in the form of a plurality of individual gusset plates providing a substantially plane vexly cambered toprovide an outwardly converging chanmately vertically oriented frame members; a plurality of nel to receive said respectivelmarginal edges.

6. The display and support rack of claim 5 .wherein said marginal edges are provided with depressions 1ongitudinally extended therealong and of a configuration complementary to the convex camber of said inner surfaces.

7. A display and support rack for a plurality of reusable containers individually providing movable covers of a predetermined vertical height, comprising a pair or" transversely spaced approximately vertically oriented frame members having forwardly and rearwardly disposed marginal edges; a plurality of elongated shelves having forwardly and rearwardly disposed marginal edges extended between said frame members in superposed, vertically spaced, substantially parallel relation and affording respective downwardly presented surfaces extended between opposite ends of said shelves with said opposite ends being respectively disposed in juxtaposition to said frame members; means adapted to engage the respective marginal edges of said frame members and said shelves detachably securing said shelves to the frame members at respectivepositions adjacent to said opposite ends of the shelves; and a plurality of individual container support means extended from said downwardly presented surfaces at predetermined intervals of transverse spacing between said frame members to accommodate said containers and affording respective downwardly opening sockets of a depth less than said predetermined height and of a transverse dimension to accommodate said covers and support the same in depending relation.

8. A display and support rack for a plurality of reusable containers individually provided with removable covers of a predetermined thickness, comprising a pair of spaced frame members having marginal edges; a plurality of elongated shelves having marginal edges extended between said frame members in spaced substantially parallel relation providing opposite ends disposed in juxtaposition to said frame members; means adapted to engage the respective marginal edges of said frame members and said shelves outwardly of the rack detachably to secure said shelves to the frame members at respective positions adjacent to said opposite ends of the shelves; and a plurality of individual container support members integral with the shelves and extended therefrom at predetermined intervals of spacing between said frame members and providing sockets of a depth less than said predetermined thickness of said covers and of a transverse dimension to accommodate said covers in supporting relation with a portion of the covers extended outwardly from said support means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,230,975 2/41 Gratz 211 X 2,557,801 6/51 Shapiro 211-75 2,620,691 12/52 Gould 21174 X 2,711,830 6/55 Howell 21175 2,895,620 7/59 Thompson 211148 3,131,011 4/64 Rittenberry 312-266 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY AND SUPPORT RACK FOR A PLURALITY OF REUSABLE CONTAINERS WHICH ARE PROVIDED WITH RESPECTIVE REMOVABLE COVERS OF A PREDETERMINED VERTICAL HEIGHT, THE RACK COMPRISING A PAIR OF TRANSVERSELY SPACED, APPROXIMATELY VERTICALLY ORIENTED FRAME MEMBERS; A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED SHELVES EXTENDED BETWEEN AND SECURED TO SAID FRAME MEMBERS IN SUPERPOSED, VERTICALLY SPACED SUBSANTIALLY PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP AND AFFORDING RESPECTIVE DOWNWARDLY PRESENTED SURFACES EXENDED BETWEEN OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID SHELVESF AND A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL CONTAINER SUPPORT MEANS INTEGRAL WITH THE SHELVES AND EXTENDED FROM SAID DOWNWARDLY PRESENTED SURFACES AT PREDETERMINED INTERVALS OF TRANSVERSE SPACING BETWEEN SAID FRAME MEMBERS TO ACCOMODATE SAID CONTAINERS AND AFFORDING RESPECTIVE DOWNWARDLY OPENING SOCKETS OF A DEPTH LESS THAN SAID PREDETERMNED HEIGHT AND OF A TRANSVERSE DIMENSION TO ACCOMODATE SAID COVERS TO SUPPORT THE SAME IN DEPENDING RELATIONSHIP WITH A PORTION OF THE COVERS EXTENDED OUTWARDLY FROM THE SUPPORT MEANS. 